The Build Your Masterpiece Class - FREE Christmas + New Years Adventures in Scotland

Christmas in Scotland is a lovely time... but, before 1958, Christmas Day was not a public holiday, and their mid-winter festivities were traditionaly left for 'Hogmanay' which is New Years. Of course, now a days they have all the same Christmas Day festivities and the Yuletide celebrations of the rest of the UK and Europe. The capital city, Edinburgh, now hosts a traditional German Christmas Market each year, where Christmas lights are strung up in the high streets of all of the main towns and cities! So, lets learn more about Hogmanay with books, a craft and a yummy cookie recipe!

Optional Books:

The 12 Days of Yule by Susan Rennie - Read this lovely Scottish story of Yule in Scotland!

The Ancient Celtic Festivals and How We Celebrate Them by Clare Walker Leslie

Whit the Clockleddy Heard by Julia Donaldson - Enjoy this fun children’s book in the Scottish Language!

This is Edinburgh by M. Sasek

Donald and the Loch Ness Monster by Disney's Small World Library

We have added in a few additional books all about Edinburgh, that we just love! If you can find them in your library let me know. I have included Amazon Links for you to check out:

Katie In Scotland by James Mayhew - Read Aloud

Maisie’s Festival Adventure by Aileen Paterson

Edinburgh 123 by Lauren Gentry & Anna Day

Hamish McHaggis and the Edinburgh Adventure by Linda Strachan & Sally J. Collins

You Tube Videos to see more of Scotland:

Watch Travel with Kids You Tube Video of their adventures in Scotland:

Watch what the Edinburgh Christmas Market Looks like:

Craft: Woven Scottish Bagpipes Craft

Watch this video for inspiration on how to weave your bagpipe from Primary Projects:

Supplies Needed:

• construction paper in a variety of colors

• paper

• masking tape

• glue stick

• scissors

• cardboard

• string or ribbon

STEPS:

1. Cut out strips of construction paper, and create a woven page, then glue down completely to your paper.

2. Turn over, and draw out the abstract shape of a bag, and then cut out.

3. Turn over, and cut out black stripes of paper, and add them onto be the pipes. Place purple rectangle shapes on the tops of the pipes.

4. Ta Da! There you have a lovely memory of Scotland.
   

Listen to the Music of the Bagpipes:

If you are looking for a few other British Holiday recipes to add to your baking, Here are my top 5 to check out:

1. Peppermint Creams | The Bear and the Fox

2. Perfect British Sticky Toffee Pudding | Rock Recipes

3. Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns | The Bear and the Fox

4. Making Hot Cross Buns with Kids | Jamie Oliver

5. Toad in the Hole | Jamie Oliver (This is a recipe you can be sure to find in our up and coming England Adventures! Until then, give Jamie’s version a try, it looks fabulous)

A Fun Hogmanay/New Year’s Activity for Kids: Count Down to the New Year with a Bag full of surprises!

Supplies Needed:

• 8 Brown Paper Pages for each child

• Markers

• a range of surprises, crafts, and small activities for each bag

Method:

1. Draw a clock on each bag, marking 4pm, 5pm, and so on until you reach midnight.

2. Tip: Mark each child’s name on the set of 8 bags, so as not to get confused!

3. Within each bag, place special little treats, activities, and crafts for the kids to enjoy every hour up until midnight!

Side Note: This activity was inspired by a similar activity by The Bear and the Fox in this post here.

How is your Scottish New Year Adventures coming along?

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